Freeing the mind slaves

[Jacob(smooth)]

Ah sorry. I thought the question related to my stance on what would you say about a man who was aware of slavery and wanted to be a part of it.

What was the question again?!

Well, the question was about someone who was aware of slavery, mind slavery that is, that wanted to be a part of it.

Your OP was a comparison of religion and being a slave of the Matrix and about how some people understand that they are in the Matrix while others think it is reality. In this sense, you are like a person that is aware of the Matrix but chooses to stay in it.

In other words, if you see religion as mind slavery, why do you label yourself a Christian?

Oh I see! Sorry, makes sense now.

Couple of reasons, again paraphrased

I know religion may not be real. I know that when I make that prayer my subconscious will tell me it's helpful, and uplifting and comforting. And after 13 years you know what I realise? Ignorance is bliss! And anyway, What is real? How do you define 'real'? If you're talking about what you can feel, what you can smell, what you can taste and see, then 'real' is simply electrical signals interpreted by your brain. In which case, God is real.

Your OP was a comparison of religion and being a slave of the Matrix and about how some people understand that they are in the Matrix while others think it is reality. In this sense, you are like a person that is aware of the Matrix but chooses to stay in it.

It's worse than that: the person who remains in the matrix by choice gains a much nicer- if physically false- reality than the post apocalyptic robot nightmare that is the alternative. The religious person who straps himself to that wheel by choice is only given an unjustified promise of something to come.

Actually no. At least some pleople gain reprieve from the apocalyptic world as well. Religion, for me, is far more than pie in the sky when we die. It's pie down here as well!

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Religion is a system, Neo. That system is our enemy. But when you're inside, you look around, what do you see? Businessmen, teachers, lawyers, carpenters. The very minds of the people we are trying to save. But until we do, these people are still a part of that system and that makes them our enemy. You have to understand, most of these people are not ready to be unplugged. And many of them are so inured, so hopelessly dependent on the system, that they will fight to protect it.

Fits disturbingly well doesn't it...

1. So do you think that you are also in this matrix as you described above?

2. If the answer is yes, then do you want to get out of it?

3. If you want to get out of it, then what do you think is preventing you from doing that?

1. Yes
2. No.
3. NA

We're all in a fantasy world, that private little space between our ears. To quote Milton, "The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven..”. We will never know reality other than what our sensory apparatus and cognitive process can derive. I find life is much easier when you learn the trick of remoulding the matrix as you see fit.